Reviews// Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands

Any issues PoP2008 had with traversal are sorted, conclusively. Motion in this game is natural and intuitive as you could wish. Which is a good thing, because the levels are complex and creative, requiring you to use the Prince's many moves in combinations that become ever more demanding as you progress through the game. Initially, it's the usual combination of jumping, wall running, hanging from ledges, climbing columns and swinging from poles. Some of the poles are switches that make parts of the level move, thus opening up new pathways to your goal.

Once you begin to utilise the Prince's time distorting powers things become much more convoluted. You can "freeze" water to use as as a platform for level traversal, but only temporarily. You'll have to time your button presses well as you need to alternatively freeze and release water to use it as a column, and then to pass through a curtain of it. This creates great button pressing challenges, and really tests the dexterity. It's frustrating at times, as it is sometimes required that you release and re-press a given combo between obstacles... but once you get used to this it becomes a pleasant challenge.

The use of the Prince's powers to negotiate the levels forms only a part of the game puzzling aspect. There are also many 'machines' that you have to activate to complete the levels, which results in a good number of 'lever-pulling' puzzles.

Experience points gained during the game can be "spent" on upgrades to your powers. Power-ups are arranged in a hierarchical grid, and while you have a choice, you can only build on already-purchased powers. You start by selecting either a longer energy bar, or more slots in your powers meter. But then you can add control of fire, water, air and earth. These powers are mainly for combat use.

The combat system is a little button-mashy, with most moves performed by using the X button. Throw in a few dodges, and a few aerial attacks and you'll have very few challenges on 'Normal' difficulty. But battles can be large, with up to 50 opponents at once crowding you from all sides. And there is some strategy to the battles - some enemies are 'generators' who raise new opponents from the sands of the battleground. If you do not target and eliminate these quickly, the battles can become very extended.

Killing opponents gives you health, and health, power and experience can all be found by destroying containers scattered around the levels.

Forgotten Sands is extremely linear, and the story is not so compelling as to make this excusable. There is an overwhelming feeling of being 'on rails' and compelled forwards at all times by your return route being cut off, or destruction of the level driving you forward.

As the game progresses and your time controlling powers advance, you get to be able to return some of the level's destroyed elements to their former state.

Conclusion
I like this game a lot. It is an excellent mix of action, adventure and puzzling. The motion is wonderfully smooth and fluid, which is the series' defining characteristic. The game feels meatier, darker and more serious than the previous iteration, which many people will consider a good thing. It is!

SPOnG Score: 82%